In a vehicle’s design, certain parts are meant to act in uniformity and when one goes amiss, there will be problems in the entire process and functionality.

When this happens, your vehicle needs a tune-up. A tune-up is a process in vehicle maintenance that ensures that all parts and components of the fuel system are working for optimum performance and fuel efficiency.

Here are 3 signs that your vehicle needs a tune-up fast:

1. Your vehicle is hard starting

Hard starting is the most common of these signs and is usually a result of neglected maintenance. If the starter is cranking the engine, it means that the electrical system is working properly.

However, the problem could be emanating from the choke mechanism or the starting sensor. In most cases, hard starting is as a result of failure in your computer-controlled ignition system or an electronic component malfunction.

2. Your vehicle is knocking

The knocking noise is best heard when the vehicle is carrying a heavy load, when going up a hill or when accelerating. In some cases, the knocking is caused by inferior fuel, but it might also be a sign that your engine is not working properly and needs immediate attention. A carbon build up inside your vehicle’s engine can also be the source of the knocking.

Technology has aided the installation of knock sensors in new model vehicles. This sensor detects the knocking sound and corrects the situation to get rid of it. However, you cannot depend on these sensors when it comes to extreme situations. So when you hear the knocking and notice that the system does not correct it, that’s a sign to take your vehicle in for an inspection and a tune-up to prevent further damage.

3. Your care is stalling

Stalling is never a good thing. There are a number of reasons why your vehicle could stall. It could be because of worn out spark plugs, a dirty fuel system, a malfunctioning switch or sensor, wrong idle speed adjustments among other engine problems.

However, whatever the reason, be sure to get it into an auto repair shop so they can take a look at it and fix the problem.

It is important to note when stalling happens in relation to temperature so you can inform the auto repair shop. For instance, was it a hot day? A cold day? Were you running your heat or AC? These points will assist in a fast diagnosis and proper tune-up.